Telegraph system



.A. F. DIXON.

TELEGRAPH SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20, 1917.

1,400,035. Patented Dec.13,1921.

//7 yen/0r. 4/7705 [10/100 tion herein arranged in groups, may

cally in the UNITED STATES PATENTH'OFFICE.

- AMOS r. DIXON, or NEWARK,

PANY, moonrona'rnn, or

NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTERN ELECTRIC COM- NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION .OF NEw YoRK.

TELEGRAPH SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Application filed November 20, 1917 Serial No. 202,941.

This invention relates to telegraph systems and more particularly to im rovements in multiplex systems.

The object of this invention .is the pro-.

vision of a simple arrangement for driving two or more distributers 11'1 synchronism, and one which will be suitablefor use in systems where economy in line time not a controlling factor.

In the system of this invention, one of the distributers acts as a master distributer and sends impulses over a line to the other distributers. Such impulses are preferably sent out in groups to alternate with groups of message impulses, the momentum of the controlled distributer being relied upon to maintain the continued isochronous motion during the time that message marking impulses are being transmitted.

In' the specific embodiment of the inven described, the transmitter is four groups of segments arranged alternately to transmit message impulses'and control impulses. The receiving distributer is similarly equipped with four groups of segments arranged alternately to receive message impulses and control impulses. It will thus be seen that in, this specific arrangement, the line is available for the transmission of message impulses during half of the time and that the other half of the time is employed in transmitting control impulses. v

It will be obvious, however, that the system is not limited to the-employment' of four groups of impulses, but that a greater or less number may beemployed, depending upon the requirements of the service. It will also readilyappear to those skilled in the art that the two sets of segments,

equipped with to alternately send trol impulse. This invention is illustrated diagrammatiaccompanying drawing in which only so much of a telegraph equipment is out a message and a conhave invented certain newanduseful instead of being be arranged so as shown as will be necessary to a clear under standing of this system.

Referrin to the drawing, character indicates a telegraph station at which a main line 1 terminates in apolar duplex equipment comprising a polarized relay l0 and an artificial line AL. A distributer 20 of the rotary type is included in circuit with the neutral point .13 of the duplex equipment outgoing impulsesto the main line 1. A distributer 30included in circuit with the armathe reference I Patented Dec. 13, 1921.

and operates to impart.

ture of the line relay 10 controls the reception and distribution of telegraphlc 1mpulses incoming from the main line 1;

The line 1 extends to a second station B and there terminates in a polar duplex equipment comprising a olarized line relay 4:0 and an artificial line A A distributer connected to the neutral point 43 of the duplex equipment controls the imparting of outgoing impulses to the line 1, and a distributer included in circuit with a local contact 44 of the line relay 10 serves for the reception and distribution of impulses incoming from the main line 1'.

i The present system appliesmore particularly to printing telegra hs and message transmission is based on the well known Baudot system in which a five-unit code comprising permutations of positive and negative impulses of current is employed. In conformity with such five-unit code, wherein each character is distinguished from all other characters by a particular permutation of the impulses and these impulses act upon the selecting mechanism of a. receiving equipment to recompose the impulses into a printed character, the distributers are provide with suitably segmented rings divided into quadrants, each quadrant corresponding with an interval of five impulses. Accordingly, at the transmitting distributers 20 and 70 five segments in each of thequadrants and E may be connected respectively with diiferent transmitters, or one transmitter at eachidistributermay be interconnected in derived circuit manner to rants and E to prepare permutations 0 current polarities at these segments'to be successivelv imparted to the line 1 as the trailer arms 21 and 71 sweep through their respective quadrants. The same service arrange- .ment applies to't'he receiving distributers 30 the segments in both quad- .rotate in synchronism one In describing the presentsystem let it be assumed that thedistributers 20 and 30 at A are driven by a suitable constant speed motor (not shown); as a phonic wheel under control of a tuning fork, as well understood in the art. Accordingly, such driving means will cause the trailer or contactor. arms 21 and 31 respectively of these distributers to with the other at a uniform speed and, say, in a clockwise direction. At the distributer 20 it will be noted that in the quadrants'D and F the first and following alternate segments, progressing clockwise, are included with a source of negatively poled grounded current 2, and that the second and following alternate segments are included with a positively poled grounded source 3. Therefore, when the trailer arm 21 sweeps over the segments in these quadrants alternate negative and positive current impulses-will be transmitted by Way of the trailer arm 21, collector ring 22, point 27 and a switch blade 26, a point 15 and a switch blade 16, to the'neutral point 13 at the relay 10. From t is point an impulse divides, a portion of the current traversing the relay coil 12 and artificial line AL to earth, while an equal portion traverses the relay coil 11, main line conductor 1, thence through the serially connected coils 41 and 42 of the linerelay and the artifiters 70 and 80 at B cial line AL to earth. Owing to the duplex balance thev line ,relay 10 is not affected by these currents, while the line relay 40 responds thereto and moves its armature to en gage the contact stops 44 and 45 in phase with alternations in polarity of the impulses imparted to the line 1' by the distributer 20. Let it beffurther assumed that the distribuare. running in synchronism with the distributersatA, as will presently be apparent. Accordingly. the trailer arm 81 of the distributer 80 will be in the quadrant D, corresponding with such time as the trailer arm 21 of the distributer 20 is in its quadrant D. While the trailer arms are passing through the quadrants D each 52, thereby establishing a circuit from a current source 57, the-winding of a motor magnet 55 of a motor 53, the contacts 52- of the relay 50, the contacts 61 of the switch 60, thence over the conductor 7 7 to earth at the distributer 80 as already traced for the relay operating current. The magnet 55 thus energized impels a rotating armature 54 forward in a clockwise direction. On cessation of the negativeimpulse in the line 1 and the imparting of a positive impulse thereto by the distributer 20, the armature of the relay 40 separates its contact 45 and idly closes its contact 44. Opening of the contact 45 permits the relay 50 to release, thereby separating its contacts 52' to disconnect the motor magnet 55 and to establish a circuitfrom the current source 57 through a motor -magnet.56,' by way of a conductor 62, the contacts of the key 60, the contacts 51 of the relay 50, the contacts 61 of the switch 60 and conductor 77 to earth at the distributer 80 as already traced Such alternate energization of the magnets55 and 56 causes the rotation of the armature 54 after the manner well understood by those familiar with the La Cour motor.

During periods the trailer arms may be in their respective quadrants D or F. engage merit of the 'con'tact44 of the relay 40 is non-effective, since the circuit which extends from this contact, by way of switch 46, and conductor 58, is open at collector ringsections and 86 in the message receiving quadrants C and E of the distributer 80. From the foregoingdescription it will be clear that in phase with the movement of the trailer arm 21 of the distributer 20 in passing over the segments in quadrants D and F the driving magnets 55 and 56 of the motor 53 will be alternately energized to operate the revolving armature 54which will be understood to be mechanically connected in a manner suitable to drive the trailer arms 71 and 81 of the distributers 70 and 80, respectively. A suitableb'alance or fly wheel (not shown) may be employed to steady the oper- 'ation of the motor'53 and also supply the quadrants the trailer arm 71 establishes a "circuit from the source. .73 by way of the collector ring 72, a point 74 and switch blade 76, a point 65 and switch blade 66 to the neutral point 43 of the duplex equipment.

From this neutral point the current divides equally, one portion traversing the relay coil 42 and the artificial line AL to earth; the other portion traversing the relay coil 41, the main line 1, thence through the coils 11 and 12 of the relay 10 and the artificial line AL to earth. As well understood, this current action will be neutralized and non-effective in the relay 40, While in the relay 10 it will cause the armature thereof to bias to the side indicated by the conventional-negative.

sign. In this position the armature o the relay 10 is held against its idle or non-connected stop andthe path to the collector ring sections 34 and 37 of'the distributer 30 is accordingly retained open. This operation serves to establish a uniform condition of the relay 10 and the distributer 30 during such periods as the tra ler arms of the distributers are in their respective quadrants D and F. A source of current 6included with the collector ring sections 32 and 33 of the distributer 30 is active when the trailer arm 31 is in the quadrant D to establish connection from a segment? to the section 32, and during the time the trailer arm 31 is in the quadrant F circuit is established from a segment 8 to the section 33. Connections which may be assumed as extending from the segments 7 and 8 control.

mechanisms related to printing operations at respective receivers assumed as connected from the segments in the quadrants C and E, as well understood in the art.

In order. that manual or Morse operation may, be substituted for the multiplex printer operation, switch blades 26 and 36 at station A may be moved to their respective points 28 and 38; a telegraph key'29 will thereby be substituted for the distributer 20 and a telegraph sounder 39 will be substituted for the receiving distributer 30. At the station B, moving the switch blades 46 and 76 to their respective points 48 and 78, a sounder 59 will be substituted for the receiving distributer 80, while a telegraph key :79 will be substituted for the transmitting distributer 70. Two-way manual telegraphic service may now be carried on over the duplex main line 1,-as well understood in the art. It will also be obvious that the sounders 39 and 49 may be employed as indicating means and localizing of circuit interruptions which may occur in the multiplex working. A. lamp signal 18 at station signal 68 at the station B are respectively under control of the switches 16 and 66 for service in connection with testing, balancing of circuits, etc., as will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

In starting and initially bringing the distributers at stations A and B into synchronism, one with another, the Morse equipment may be conveniently employed for for convenience in the testing A and a similar I of positive impul tion B the starting switch 60 is manually operated, and separation of its contacts 61 and 7 5 respectively disconnects the conductor 77 extending to the distributer 80 and the conductor 62 extending from the motor magnet 56 to the contacts 51 of the relay 50, while the closing of its contacts 63' substitutes a round at this switch for the ground obtaine through the quadrants D and F at the distributer 80 as already Alternate negative and positive lmpulses transmitted from the quadrants D and F of the distributer-20 traverse the main line 1 and reciprocate the armature of the line relay 4O, whereby the relay 50 is workedto alternately energize and thereby rotate the armature 54 as' alread' described. Operation of the switch 60 a so establishes its contacts 64 to include a magnet 67 to be operated over a-circuit controlledby the contacts 51 of themotor. control relay 50, in' phase with the relay 40 .as worked by control impulses inthe line 1. This circuit may be traced from a source of current 69, the

the switch 60, contacts 51 of the relay 50 described.

the motor magnet 55 I magnet 67 contacts of and the contacts 63 of the switch 60 to ground. The magnet 67 is equipped to' operate a shutter 88 properly alined adjacent black and white markings on a suitable revolving part of the motor 53. This arrangement permits the synchronism of the motor 53 to be noted by the strobo'scopic method,- as through a suitable opening or sighting range in which the shutter vibrates, the moving white and black markings will appear to be stationary when the motor is moving in synchronism with the incoming impulses from the transmitting distributer 20 at station A.

During periods the switch 60 may be held operated as described in connection with starting operations the motor magnet 56 will stand disconnected at the contacts 7 5 of this switch and therefore the motor will. be started andbrought to. synchronism' throughthe successive energizations of the drivingmagnet 55 only. These energizetions will correspond with the arrival of negative impulses from the distant distributer 20 to close the contacts 45 of the relay 40 and thereby energize the relay 50 to close its contacts 52 as already described. The armature 54 of the motor will be .impelled by momentum effects inabsence of energization ofthe driving magnet 56, during intervals corresponding with the arrival ses from the distant stadistributers at the. remote tion. Until the stations have been brought to a suitable state of synchronism, the transmitting equipments assumed as included in the quadrants C and E of the distributer 20 would, of course, continue idle, and a transmitter lever 4 in normally engaging its con tact stop 5 in applying current from the positively poled source 3 to an associated message segment may be understood as typical of the arrangement (not shown) whereby the other segments in the message quadrants C and E are normally energized.

The transmitter lever 4 may be shifted to to bias the distant line relay 40 to close its contacts 44: and such condition of the circuits at the station B would be idle or ineffective, since the circuits of the motor 53 stand disconnected at the contacts 45 of the line relay while spacing effects only may take place with respect to the receiving equipments controlled from the quadrants C and E of the distributer 80 as well understood in the art.

' Under full message capacity, it will be obvious that the trailer arms 21 and 81 of the distributers 20 and 80 respectively, will be effective during each revolution to alternately work in one-quarter periods message impulses and motor driving impulses over the mainline 1. It will also be clear that one driving station cordance with the station may be employed to control the operationofa plurality of driven stations, each equipped in accordance with thestation B.

What is claimed is:

1. In a telegraph system, a line circuit, a motor including driving magnets therefor, means for the and control impulses over said line circuit, a line relay and a relay responsive to said line relay for energizing the driving magnets to operate said motor.

2. Ina telegraph system, a line circuit, a transmitting distributer and a receiving distributer for working groups of message and control impulses over said line circuit alternately, a motor including electromagnets for driving said receiving distributer, and

a relay responsive to predetermined ones of said impulses to energize said electromagnets for driving sald motor.

way,"the trailer arm QLin e uipped in acalternate working of message effecting 3. In a telegraph system, a line circuit, a line relay in said circuit, a plurality of distributers, a motor including driving magnets, controlled through said line circuit to operate predetermined ones of said distributers, means controlled by said distributers for working impulses over said line circuit, and a relay controlled by ,said line relay and responsive to predetermined ones of said impulses ,to energize the driving magnetsv of said motor.. a

4. In a telegraph system, a line circuit, means for working impulses over said line, a motor, means for rendering predetermined ones of said impulses elfective to drive said motor, and means for rendering other predetermined ones of said impulses effective for indicating when the speed-of said motor is in synchronism with said impulses.

5. In a telegraph system, a first distributer, a second distributer, a line circuit and a line relay connected. intermediate said distributers, a second relay jointly controlled by said line relay and said second distributer, a motor controlled by said second relay to drive said second distributer, means controlled by said first distributer for the transmission of impulsesover said line,

and means jointly controlled by said line relay and said second distributer for rendering predetermined ones of said. impulses effective to operate said second relay.

6. In a telegraph system, a line circuit, a first distributer included with said line circuit, a line relay included with said line, a second distributer controlled by said line relay, asecond relay controlled by said line relay and said second distributer, a motor controlled by said second relay to drive said second distributer, and means controlled by said first distributer for the alternate transmission of message impulses'and control impulses to 'said'second distributer to respectively effect message reception and the operation of said second relay to drive said motor.

7. In a-telegraph system, a line circuit, transmitting and receiving distributer means for said line. motor means for operating said receiving distributer means, impulse re ceiving means for said line to control circuits of said receiving distributer means, means controlled by .said impulse receiving means and said receiving distributer'for' controlled by said transmitting distributer to alternately transmit message impulses and lmpulses to work said means for effect- 1ng drive ofsaid motor.

drive of said motor, and means- In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe I Irry7name this 16th day of November, A. D. 1 1 a v AMOS F. DIXON.- 

